A war of words has erupted within the halls of "60 Minutes" following Dan Rather's admission that CBS News aired a report on President Bush using questionable documents. On one side of the battle is Steve Kroft, a veteran correspondent on the Sunday edition of "60 Minutes." On the other is Don Hewitt, founder of the pioneering newsmagazine.

Kroft argues it's unlikely the Sunday show would have made the mistake of using the documents that bolstered Rather's report - which aired on the Wednesday telecast, formerly known as "60 Minutes II."

So much so, Kroft and staffers on the Sunday telecast want it to be clear - they weren't the ones that were duped.

"We're all afraid of that, that's our biggest concern," Kroft told the Daily News. "We've held off from saying it, we've held off from making any comments as long as there was some hope the documents would prove to be real.

"Now, I think it's our responsibility to try to draw a distinction between the two broadcasts," Kroft said, admitting that the original show had been burned in the past and had learned from its mistakes. "They've done a lot of great work over there ... particularly with the Abu Ghraib story, they didn't rush that story on the air. This one, for whatever reason, they did."

Kroft said he was surprised when "60 Minutes II" dropped the "II" in its name, but noted yesterday that in CBS' statements regarding the mistake, the show had become "60 Minutes Wednesday."

The second edition of "60 Minutes" was a contentious project from the start. Hewitt, the creator of "60 Minutes," fought against expanding the franchise but was overruled. The second show launched Jan. 13, 1999.

"I think they've acquitted themselves nicely," said Hewitt, who was forced out as executive producer last season. "When I objected to there being a second show, I didn't know how good it was going to be."

He scolded his old crew yesterday for sniping at their beleaguered colleagues.

"Now, when the other one is in trouble, they're piling on. It's unfair, uncalled for and not the way that grown men should act," Hewitt said.

Kroft is not alone in questioning what led to Rather's having to admit the show made a mistake.

"There's anger in the rank and file that this could have happened," said a CBS News source.

Rather told The News Monday he was appreciative of those who have expressed support.

"And for those who haven't been, including those who haven't been and thought they needed to anonymously take their shots, I say, I understand," he said.

Meanwhile, attempts to trace the origins of the fraudulent paperwork have foundered on attacks from Democrats and Republicans suggesting that their political opponents concocted them.

USA Today, which also received the papers from anti-Bush activist Bill Burkett, reported yesterday that Burkett told them he was offered the documents from a woman who identified herself on the phone as Lucy Ramirez.

But when he rendezvoused with Ramirez, an unidentified man showed up instead and dropped them off.

USA Today said it has been unable to trace Ramirez.

New Yorkers go easy on Dan

New Yorkers were generally forgiving of Dan Rather's running a story based on unproven documents that attacked President Bush.

"Rather made a mistake and he was man enough to admit it." - Kaiseem Felder, 49, Xerox technician, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn.

"All I could think of was this is what he will be remembered for after such a successful career. But mistakes happen all the time in the news." - Jane Marie Giustra, 24, sales assistant, Hoboken, N.J.

"Everything they said about Bush is true; they just haven't found the evidence yet." - Dale Channer, 34, florist, the Bronx.

"He screwed up and ought to be held accountable. He should not be fired but he should apologize formally to the President." - Jim Oldham, 42, salesclerk, Weehawken, N.J.

"I feel bad for Dan Rather because he is such a respected person. CBS should take more time to research and look at who was giving them the information." - Nichole Anderson, 34, event planner, North Brunswick, N.J.

"He should have gotten the facts right, but it's not uncommon what he did." - Eddie Tallarine, 37, electrician, Massapequa, L.I.

"CBS should have checked the information before they came out with it, but the reputation of CBS is good. ... It was one mistake." - Fernando Monte, 30, consultant, Yonkers.

"I view him as an anchorperson, not the person really out gathering the information. I don't think he should resign over this." - Cynthia Lazzari, 44, health-care information manager, Philadelphia.

Their standard has been applied as such. Whenever a gun crime is committed, the MSM holds all gun owners guilty by association. MSM deducts guns are evil, henceforth, all gun owners are evil as the perp who commits a gun crime.

We can do no less for them on Rathergate.

CBS and Dan Rather have committed a horrendous act of journalistic betrayal to Americans who believed an honest and fair press was vital to our country's future as a free nation, now we can no longer believe. Therefore, all of MSM is also guilty of being democrat left wing political hacks along with Rather and CBS.

If the MSM cannot regulate themselves, there must be federal laws and regulations to control the out of control journalists. After all, even if it saves just one life, it is for the children.

End of story, courage.

52
posted on 09/22/2004 7:08:09 AM PDT
by Ursus arctos horribilis
("It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees!" Emiliano Zapata 1879-1919)

I don't know about Safer, but Mike Wallace is a solid journeyman liar in his own right. His work on 60 Minutes has had more than a few gaffs, frauds and biased events over the years. I can recall the episode where he was filmed making racist remarks during an interview in order to elicit damning statements from his victim, er, interview subject. Another time, 'damn-tough' journalist Wallace rolled over like a mining camp whore for Mrs. Jackson when she started tearing him a new one for asking questions about Jesse's wandering weener during one of his RAT primary bids.

When the plague breaks out on board a crowded ship, the careful reflect on the wisdom of throwing the sick overboard to the sharks. A body never knows when they might be the next one to come down with a little bit of fever...

They ALL suck precisely because they lie about THEIR bias. If they came out and said 'We're leftists and we're proud of it' the equation would be entirely different. We could all deal with them as we ought - on a factual basis. The great rub is in their perpetual lying about their stinking bias and what that entails.

59
posted on 09/22/2004 7:13:49 AM PDT
by WorkingClassFilth
(Savor the present as the days of Kerry's whine and poses. It'll be a nice memory when you are old.)

"I would bet that the homo agenda lies at the root of most of the Left's bitter hatred these days. Hedonistic crybabies despise Bush's morals, and they fear that his policies will take away their Constitutional "right" to fudgepack and not be judged for their perversion, infact be hailed as great ones!

He has not admitted to anything--he has only shown regret for getting caught defrauding the American people. RATher has no ethics, not a shred of morality, and not one bit of human descency. He is beyond contempt.

"Now, when the other one is in trouble, they're piling on. It's unfair, uncalled for and not the way that grown men should act," Hewitt said.

This is why they will never beable to "police" themselves. The media never has any problem "piling on" when they go after someone they don't like, but but it is "uncalled for and unfair" when it happens to them.

Bah! It will be a great day when 60 Minutes goes off the air for good.

"Everything they said about Bush is true; they just haven't found the evidence yet." - Dale Channer, 34, florist, the Bronx. "

Add to that from the NYT: "The memos are fake but accurate"

Sounds an awful like: "The evidence doesn't matter, the charges are serious enough to demand action" or something like that. Wasn't that the line used during the "high tech lynching" (confirmation hearing) of a respected US Supreme Court justice?

"Everything they said about Bush is true; they just haven't found the evidence yet." - Dale Channer, 34, florist, the Bronx

That is about an UNBIASED statement as I have ever heard. "HE KNOWS" that everything said about Bush is TRUE!! Just because NO EVIDENCE exists to prove that statement is but a MINOR, meaningless point.

OReilly: "I want to ask you flat out, do you think President Clintons an honest man?" Rather: "Yes, I think hes an honest man." OReilly: "Do you, really?" Rather: "I do." OReilly: "Even though he lied to Jim Lehrers face about the Lewinsky case?" Rather: "Who among us has not lied about something?" OReilly: "Well, I didnt lie to anybodys face on national television. I dont think you have, have you?" Rather: "I dont think I ever have. I hope I never have. But, look, its one thing-" OReilly, jumping in: "How can you say hes an honest guy then?" Rather: "Well, because I think he is. I think at core hes an honest person. I know that you have a different view. I know that you consider it sort of astonishing anybody would say so, but I think you can be an honest person and lie about any number of things." OReilly: "Really?!?" Rather: "Yeah, I do." OReilly: "See, I cant. I want my government to be honest across-the-board. I dont want people lying."

75
posted on 09/22/2004 8:44:30 AM PDT
by MeekOneGOP
(There is only one GOOD 'RAT: one that has been voted OUT of POWER !! Straight ticket GOP!)

"Choice of attention - to pay attention to this and ignore that - is to the inner life what choice of action is to the outer. In both cases, a man is responsible for his choice and must accept the consequences, whatever they may be." -W. H. Auden, A Certain World

Dan Rather made his choice! It was the WRONG choice and he should apologize to our President and he should apologize to the the Killian family as well.

We're waiting Dan but...we won't hold our breath.

76
posted on 09/22/2004 8:59:51 AM PDT
by cubreporter
(-I trust Rush...he will prevail in spite of the naysayers.)

"Choice of attention - to pay attention to this and ignore that - is to the inner life what choice of action is to the outer. In both cases, a man is responsible for his choice and must accept the consequences, whatever they may be." -W. H. Auden, A Certain World

Dan Rather made his choice! It was the WRONG choice and he should apologize to our President and he should apologize to the the Killian family as well.

We're waiting Dan but...we won't hold our breath.

77
posted on 09/22/2004 9:00:13 AM PDT
by cubreporter
(-I trust Rush...he will prevail in spite of the naysayers.)

"Rather made a mistake and he was man enough to admit it." - Kaiseem Felder, 49, Xerox technician, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. <<<Wonder if he's interested in buying the Brooklyn bridge...close to home and all...Think Ill give him a call

If someone wants to know about the Supreme Court ruling, they should read it. They should also read the Florida ruling it overturned. (I could not believe a jurist writing a legal opinion would cite a newspaper, but it's right there in the footnotes) I they really want to get into the subject, they might want to explore the election law being ruled on. Everything they need to inform themselves is on-line.

If they don't have the time or inclination to do all of that, they need to stop thinking they are well informed about the topic. There is some truth for you.

"Now, when the other one is in trouble, they're piling on. It's unfair, uncalled for and not the way that grown men should act," Hewitt said.

With all due respect Mr. Hewitt, out here in the real world, one of the first things we learn is that life is not fair. It's not supposed to be fair. Fair makes people weak. We grow & are made better people by struggling. Thinking the world should treat you fairly makes people expecting it, demanding it sound like a whiny child.

What the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth have said, is based on their own first hand experience with Kerry, and actual true documents, yet you will not believe it....what is that called, when a person refuses to believe the truth to believe a lie?

There is a large difference between 60 minutes Sunday and Wednesday. It's called Dan Rathers. He has always been the one newsman who I dislike the most. I only watch his regular newsbroadcast because it was for years the only station that comes in here in my corner of downeast Maine. I like all of those reporting for 60 minutes Sunday night with the exception of Mike Wallace. I mute him out or go back to playing with the dog while his portion is on. By the way, what does STFU mean?

Howie Carr has him on every Friday to talk about the upcoming Fox News Sunday. Last Friday (or the week before), he said he just wanted to make a statement -- sounding kind of sheepish -- that "no one in the Wallace family had anything to do with it."

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